Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) have been widely used labels since the early 1990s. They are considered catch-all diagnoses by many clinicians. Frankly, ADD/ADHD is poorly understood within the health care profession. Many clinicians have difficulty with classification of different behavior disorders, which are then lumped under the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD.

ADD and ADHD are caused by biochemical imbalances in the brain. In the brains of ADD/ADHD sufferers, chemicals known as neurotransmitters are not being adequately produced/processed. To stimulate the brain to cause alertness, these chemicals need to be in abundant supply. (ADD is specifically caused by too little norepinephrine production, and ADHD is linked to a decreased amount of dopamine). When norepinephrine and dopamine are in short supply, the brain essentially falls asleep. Information cannot be processed electrically and inappropriate messages will get transferred to the rest of the body. Without the correct stimulation, messages are interrupted and incorrect information gets processed. The message can be sent to or interpreted in the wrong location.

Clinically, patients with ADD/ADHD have difficulty focusing on one task. They can also miss messages from the environment. They appear to have a loss of memory and poor listening skills. Poor sleeping habits are common due to the brain's inability to shut down. Intervention strategies must address the specific areas of the brain. A specific evaluation must be done to correlate exam findings to provide strategies to maximize their full brain potential.

As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of attention deficit disorder. After a thorough neurological examination, I determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly.

To stimulate brain function, pathways must have neurological activation. Left-sided structural adjustments will stimulate pathways that fire to the right brain. Other effective modalities can also be utilized to stimulate brain function. One example is visual stimulation (watching black and red or blue and green checkerboards) in the left or right vision field. Auditory stimulation in one ear can also be utilized at different intensities and frequencies, based on the patient need. Metronome clicks, gentle ocean sounds, rain showers, or Mozart are a few examples of auditory stimulation. Continually monitoring the patient's blood pressure, respiration rate, pulse, pupillary reflex and V/A ratio are mandatory to avoid over-stimulating the brain.

To truly understand ADD/ADHD, we must address attention as a global process, not just an issue of being able to focus on and sustain attention to a task. Attention is required in both cognitive and behavioral processes. How the information is utilized by the individual's brain is critical to correct diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, one of only 700 in the country, with over twenty years of experience in private practice. He has completed over 850 hours of neurological studies and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His book What Do You Do When the Medications Don't Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions outlines his groundbreaking work in the treatment of chronic pain and is a national best-seller. It is available wherever books are sold.

? 2005 Michael L. Johnson, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.

How to Prevent Cancer with Proper Diet and Supplements

By epidemiological studies and by direct trials, much evidence has by now been gathered about the cancer prevention effects of certain diet measures, of specific food sources and of specific supplements of natural substances.

GENERAL DIET ADVICES

A diet with the aim of preventing cancer is generally the same as a diet to prevent heart disease and other diseases. Here are the general diet advices

- Avoid or reduce the amount of food that are industrially processed, artificially made or heavily fried.

- Eat fish at least every second day. Also eat seafood and fouls.

- Do not eat very much red meat.

- Eat 5 fruits or vegetables each day. Each piece should be of the size of an apple or carrot. They should be raw or carefully boiled so that the nutrients are not washed out.

- Eat full corn bread, full corn cereals, peas, beans and potatoes.

- Eat just a moderate amount of fat.

- Ideally most fat you eat, should be of the type mono-unsaturated. You also need some poly-unsaturated fat of the types omega-3, and omega 6, but not too much of omega-6. The consumption of saturated fat should be moderate.

- In order to achieve right fat balance, much of the fat supply should come from a blending of sources like olive, olive oil, canola oil, nuts, nut oil, sunflower, sunflower oil, fish and fish oil.

- Use only a moderate amount of soy oil and corn oil in the diet. Only using such oil types will give you too muchmuch poly-unsaturated fat of the omega-6-type.

- Use just a very moderate amount of fat sources like butter, coconut oil and palm oil. A high consumption of these fat sources gives you too much saturated fat.

- Avoid altogether fat that has been chemically altered, giving so-called trans-fat. This type of fat is often found in margarine, cookies, snacks, fast food and other pre-made food.

- Consume just a very moderate amount of sugar, refined flour or refined cereals.

- Consume just a moderate consumption of tranquilizers and stimulants like alcohol and caffeine.

- Use just a moderate amount of salt in the food. However, in warm weather and by hard physical work, you will need more salt.

SPECIFIC FOODS AND DRINKS TO USE

A diet with generally much fruit and vegetables has proven to help prevent cancer. Optimally a person should eat five fruits or vegetables each day, and those should be raw or carefully cooked, so that the nutrients are not washed out by the cooking.

Generally plants, fruits and spices with a strong colour or a strong taste have cancer preventing effects because of the contents of bioflavonids and other anti-oxidants.

Broccoli, cabbage, mustard, kale, and cauliflower are vegetables with proven strong cancer preventing effects, probably due to the content of indole-3-carbinole. Onion and garlic are also thought to help prevent cancer.

Whole grain and bread made of whole grain will help prevent colon cancer because of the fibre content and possibly also because of the vitamins and minerals contained.

Red peppers give a protecting effect against prostate cancer.

Eating fish, and especially fat fish, some times each week also have a protecting effect against prostate cancer.

Evidence points to the conclusion that green tea can help prevent cancer. However studies so far undertaken do not sort out all other variables that may give the same result.

Some studies have indicated that drinking coffee reduces the incidence of cancer, but others studies have thrown doubt upon these results.

SUPPLEMENTS OF VITAMINS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES

Here are listed the most important cancer preventing effects suggested by results from recent projects. However, research is going on, and these results are not yet complete or absolutely certain.

These substances give general cancer prevention effects: Sulforaphanes found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables.

Colo-rectal cancer: These substances help protect against colo-rectal cancer: Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), Folic acid / folate in combination with other B-vitamins, Selenium, Indol-3-carbinol from cruciferous vegetables, Genistein from soy, and possibly also vitamin D. Alfa-tocoferol (a kind of Vitamin E) may help, but project results are not conclusive jet.

Gastric cancer: Substances that may help prevent gastric cancer, and even help cure changes that can evolve into gastric cancer are: Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, (a precursor of vitamin A), Alfa-tocoferol (a kind of Vitamin E), Indol-3-carbinol from cruciferous vegetables, Genistein from soy.

Breast Cancer: The incidence of breast cancer can be lowered by: Folic acid / folate, Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), Selenium, and possibly vitamin D.

Prostate Cancer: These substances may help protect against Prostate cancer: Selenium and Alfa-tocoferol (a kind of Vitamin E). A long study is under way, but the results from the study are not conclusive yet.

Bladder cancer: The chance of getting bladder cancer is possibly lowered by alfa-tocoferol (a kind of Vitamin E).

Lung cancer: Substances that gives protection against Lung Cancer are: Isoflavones from soy. Indol-3-carbinol from broccoli and other crusiferous vegetables, Genistein from soy and possibly Vitamin D.

Results from research projects suggest that supplements added to the diet to prevent cancer should contain many working substances derived from natural sources, and that it is not wise to use heavy doses of just one substance.

NUTRIENTS THAT MAY HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT

Beta-carotene and vitamine A supplements may increase the chance for heavy smokers of getting lung cancer and other cancers caused by smoking, according to results from epidemologic studies.

However, these vitamins in the food does not increase this risk. It is not clear what effect beta-carotene have on lung cancer in combination with other supplements or by non-smokers. The results from these studies are also controversial.

REFERENCES

You can read more about food,supplements and cancer prevention at these sites:

The Cancer Project: http://www.cancerproject.org

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/

Knut Holt is an internet consultant and marketer focusing on health items. ----TO FIND natural medicines against common diseases, for example: Over-weight, acne, eczema, hypothyroidism, fatigue, depression, hemorrhoids, joint pain, hypertension, high cholesterol, circulatory problems, digestive ailments, allergies, menstrual problems, respiratory diseases and more, PLEASE VISIT:

http://www.abicana.com/shop2.htm

To find supplements of vitamins and minerals to prevent disease, PLEASE VISIT:

http://www.abicana.com/shop1.htm

-----Free to reprint with the author's name and link.

Natural Cure for Diabetes

Food Therapy should be followed under the supervision from your doctor. Check your sugar level frequently so that sugar levels do not go beyond the recommended level

Foods to avoid

It is always advisable to avoid some foods if you are diabetic such as refined sugar, sweets, syrups, glucose, jam, molasses, fruit sugar, ice-cream, cakes, pastries, sweet biscuits, chocolates, soft drinks, condensed milk, cream and fried foods. Fats like butter, ghee and hydrogenated vegetable oil should also be avoided. White sugar and white flour should be reduced drastically. Avoid all processed foods, junk food, pastries, cookies, canned and preserved foods. They contain harmful preservatives and lot of salt. Avoid soft drinks since these have a lot of sugar. Try to avoid fried foods from your diet. Smoking results in the using up of oxygen in the body. It will result in less of oxygen needed by the body to metabolize glucose. So smoking should be avoided.

Foods to be limited

Salt consumption should be reduced to a minimum. You will get enough salt form the vegetables and fruits you eat. Reduce animal foods especially red meats. Reduce poultry and egg. Reduce caffeine and alcohol. Do not drink tea and coffee more than 2 cups a day. Try to replace it with green tea or herbal teas like Parsley tea, Blueberry leaf, Tea made of tender walnut tree leaves, Water in which kidney bean pods have been cooked is good diabetes.

Do not consume alcohol in empty stomach. Alcohol on an empty stomach can cause low blood glucose or hypoglycemia.Foods that should be consumed in moderation are honey and other natural sugars like palm sugar, dates which can be used instead of white sugar. Remember these should be consumed in very little quantity only.Pasta, coconut, other nuts, unsweetened juices, eggs should be limited. You can replace it with whole grain, unpolished rice and Soya products. Try to eat whole grain bread instead of white flour. Fats like olive oil and peanut oil are more advisable that hydrogenated fats. Low fat food like skimmed milk and low fat home made cottage cheese can be taken in moderation. You can also substitute it with yoghurt. Sea food and fish also can be taken in moderation.

Foods to be taken

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. An alkaline diet with natural food is recommended. Wholegrain, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and dairy products form a good diet for the diabetic. Raw vegetables can be taken in high quantities. It has been found that cooked foods raise blood glucose higher than raw, unpeeled foods. Cooking destroys many of the enzymes and some vitamins and minerals.

Eat at least five fruits every day. Fruits like grape fruit, pomegranate juice, Indian blackberry, banana, granny smith apples, fig, cranberries, black berry, kiwi fruits, and citrus fruits are highly recommended. It can be taken as a snack. Cucumber, Lettuce, onion, garlic string beans cucumber radish, tomato, carrot, leaves; spinach turnip, cabbage and Jerusalem artichoke are good for diabetes. Colorful vegetables are good for the functioning of pancreas. Drink Fruit juices without sugar. Brewer?s yeast and sprouted alfalfa and mung beans are good for the body. Unripe banana also can be cooked and eaten.

The most important of all is eating high fiber diet which lowers need for insulin. It releases energy into the body slowly. It has also been found that diabetes decreases and may even disappear in people eating a high fiber or whole food diet. High fiber diet has more chromium and chromium is very good for people with diabetes. Eat lot of potassium rich foods like raw peanuts, tomato, bananas, melons, dried peas, potatoes, apple cider vinegar, skimmed milk powder, wheat but do not take potassium supplements.

Include soluble fiber in your meals like barley, oatmeal, almond meal, dried beans, kidney beans, cooked black beans, peas, cereals, chickpeas, Bengal gram which has low glycemic index, , Black gram, lentils and corn or garbanzo beans to helps considerably in reducing blood sugar levels. Soy products like tofu, tempeh, soymilk, soya powder, soy bean sprouts, nuggets etc are also very good in containing neurological complications in diabetes. You can make bread out of any of the whole grains. Get a lot of soluble fiber into your diet. When you eat lots of bread, cereal and starchy vegetables you will get enough of starches which is very helpful for diabetes. Insoluble fibers, found in bran (oat bran, wheat bran), whole grain breads, whole grains and nuts, act as intestinal scrubbers by cleaning out the lower gastrointestinal tract. Fiber cleans your intestinal tract by moving out the food so that it wouldn?t stay there and putrefy. Butter milk and yoghurt diet are very beneficial.

Helpful herbs and vegetables

1. Bitter Gourd (Karela): Bitter gourd Momordica-charantia or bitter melon juice contains plant insulin and should be taken 2 ounce 2 times daily on an empty stomach. It is found to be very effective for diabetes. Or It can be cooked as any vegetable and eaten. Or The bitter melon powder can be made by drying. Take bitter gourd powder I teaspoon daily in empty stomach.
2. Taking half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day may help prevent the onset of diabetes. Even soaking a cinnamon sticks in your tea, could also benefit non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem but are unaware of it.
3. 30 gram fenugreek seeds can be soaked in a glass of water at night and after 12 hours take it and grind it into a paste with the soaked water and drink it on a empty stomach. Or 2 teaspoon if powdered seeds can be taken with water or milk. Or You can add fenugreek into anything you cook.
4. Eating upto 3 grapefruits a day has also been helpful.
5. 1 tablespoon of amla (Emblica officinalis) after removing the seeds extract the juice and mix with a cup of bitter gourd juice and take daily for 2months in a empty stomach.
6. Gymnema Sylvestre a traditional ayurvedic herb the leaf of which is to be taken up to 4 grams per day.
7. Indian blackberry seeds or Jamun seed powder (scientific name of Jamun is Eugenia jambolana or Syzygium cumini L and) is very good for diabetes. Take 1/4th teaspoon with 1 teasoon honey for 50 days.
8. Eating freshly crushed raw garlic 3-4 grams a day lowers blood sugar. You can wash it down with a glass of water.
9. Neem seeds daily 2 times a pinch. Taking a gram of neem leaf daily helps in diabetes.
10. Bael (Aegle marmelos) : The leave of the bael tree when chewed are very useful in diabetes. Pulp of this fruit could be dried and taken in doses of 5 to 10 gms a day.
11. A pinch of pure turmeric powders mixed in amla juice (Indian goose berry) and eat daily in empty stomach.
12. Use of turmeric and gooseberry in equal quantities in powder form taken with warm water is very useful in this behalf. These activate the pancreatic cells and more insulin is produced.
13. Wild jeerakam cumin seeds black colored 60 gm in 1 liter and boil a reduce it ti 1/4th liter and take half divide it into two equal parts and drink one part in the morning and one in the evening 2 times daily.
14. Grind (Bacopa monnieri )Bhrahmi and add a teaspoon of it to milk and drink.

Vitamins that help

Supplements in natural forms are more conducive to the body. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. Vitamin C: 500 mg is recommended. Vitamin E: This vitamin is very valuable for diabetes. A daily dose of 200 i.u. of Vitamin E is recommended for a fortnight at a time. Chromium: Whole grains, seeds, mushrooms, corn oil and brewer?s yeast are relatively good sources of biologically valuable chromium. Vitamin A:. Take A dose of 15,000i.u. on alternate days. Vitamin B: Avoid large dosage of vitamin B because this vitamin interferes with the absorption of insulin by cells.

Things to do

Controlling your Weight is the best way to treat diabetes. Exercise improves the body's response to insulin. An exercise program should be started only with the advice of a doctor to avoid unnecessary complications. Walking, light games, jogging and swimming are also good.

Yoga can help a lot. To relieve stress do meditation once a day for 10 to 40 minutes. Yogic asanas like Siddhasana, Vajrasana, Talasana, Yastikasana,, like Yogamudra, Hastapadasana, Paschimottanasana, Chakrasana, Ustrasana, Bhujangasana, Sarvangasana and Viparitakarani, as halasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana, Pratipaksabhavana and shavasana will also be beneficial.

Anita Cherrys is a health enthusiast who offers informative tips on certified organic products. For more information on health visit http://www.healthinfoforyou.com/an/natural-cure-for-diabetes.htm
You can reprint this article on your website as long as you do not modify any of the content, and include our resource box as listed above with all links intact and hyperlinked properly.

7 Tips for Dieting Success

There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan to lose weight and get healthier. But, rather than examine diet plans or the details of how and why low-carb diets work, here are some useful tips that can be used in any diet plan -- and, really, in any sensible approach to eating.

Tip 1: Drink 8 to 10 Glasses of Water Every Day

You've heard this one over and over. But, it isn't easy and too few people actually do it. Your body needs water to keep your system clean, to process food, to keep your skin in good shape and more. Sure, it'll use any liquid, but pure water works best. But - there's no taste, at least with pure water. This can be difficult since we're conditioned to want sweetness and flavors. But, it gets easier the more you do it. It's a matter of re-conditioning your taste buds, and yourself. Once started, you'll begin to crave water.

Drink a glass, or even two, as soon as you wake up. Especially in the beginning, those are the easy two. And they'll help you remember.

If you can't stand the taste of water, try a purifying pitcher or filter, or add a few drops of lemon or lime to your water - but no sugar or sweetener. Check out the flavored waters, too. Just keep an eye out for additives.

Tip 2: Eat Breakfast

Don't skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning - do it! Breakfast is vitally important to good health and weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again.

Eating breakfast is good for overall weight loss and it helps you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. Skip breakfast and you're more likely to binge.

Short on time? Keep hard-boiled eggs and high-fiber, low starch fruit in the fridge. If you plan to eat fruit during the day, breakfast is a perfect time to do it.

Tip 3: Eat 3 Meals and 2 Snacks Every Day

This could be a hard adjustment to make. Hey, you're busy! You already have a full-plate. When are you going to eat more?

But, exactly like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating more often. This also helps you curb bad-carb intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day.

Tips 4: Avoid White Foods

This is an easy way to remember what not to eat. If it's made from sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - just say no. Yes, those rice cakes are actually an unhealthy high-carb snack.

Look for color. Buy broccoli, lettuce, bell peppers, green beans and peas, brown rice (in moderation), leafy greens like kale and spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes.

Not only colorful, they're also high in fiber, nutrients and important antioxidants. Eating colorful fruits and vegetables will give your diet variety as well as give you added health benefits. Eat your veggies.

Tip 5: Prepare Your Own Food

While more restaurants offer so-called low-carb menu items, many of them are not ideal low-carb fare. There are many recipes for quick and easy meals that you can prepare yourself at home. Do this as often as possible.

Cooking your own foods, you know exactly what the contents are and you'll be able to better control hidden sugar and other processed junk.

This tip saves you money too. Even if you end up going to the grocery store more often, you'll save versus eating out.

Tip 6: Eat Some Protein At Every Meal And With The Snacks

In addition to everything that's been discussed before, eating protein helps you burn more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that, Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to breakdown, so you burn more calories getting rid of them.

Beautiful - eat a protein rich snack and lose weight. How about a few slices of turkey or ham or some string cheese?

Eating protein also helps you feel full so you're less likely to crave unhealthy snacks.

Tip 7: Invest In Good Cookbooks

Can?t figure out what to eat? Need variety? Get a cookbook. Granted, not all recipes in a cookbook are low-carb, but you'll be surprised at the number of low-carb and low-carb friendly recipes you can find in your standard Betty Crocker Cookbook.

Cookbooks are great reference tools that contain handy tips on purchasing cuts of meat and preparing meats, fruits and vegetables in new and exciting ways.

Plus, new low-carb cookbooks are hitting the shelves all the time. So be sure to take advantage of these resources to try something new, different and delicious.

So that's the seven tips, but here's an extra. Stay out of the center of the supermarket. It'll be easier to stick with your low-carb lifestyle if you learn this common thread in most grocery store designs: the healthy foods are on the perimeter aisles.

Think about it, when you go into the grocery all the healthy stuff, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, tend to be around the stores walls. You only rarely need to enter the center aisle areas if it's a store that keeps butter and cheese in the center near the frozen foods. Usually all of the foods that you need for your low carb diet can be found on the perimeter of the grocery store.

Train yourself to start on one end of the outer aisle and work your way around. It will be much easier to avoid carb cravings and fill your basket with healthy items if you do so.

Just these few tips can make a significant difference in how successful you can be with your diet. Use them as part of your approach to dieting and a healthier lifestyle. You'll love your new self.

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

Richard writes on a variety of health and e-business subjects. http://www.Carb.Werkz.org has recipes, articles, news and diet resources. For more tips, low-carb diet information, and books and manuals vist http://www.Carb.Werkz.org

America?s Sleep Epidemic: Some Helpful Tips

If you feel tired while reading this short article, it is already happening to you...

An estimated 100+ million Americans have occasional sleep problems, of which 40 million have so-called sleep disorders, and over 75% of the population is walking around deprived of sleep on a daily basis. Studies show it only is getting worse with each passing decade, and there are no signs of the situation becoming any better. In fact, over the past 5 years alone there has been a startling 33% increase in those of us reporting trouble sleeping! Can you imagine what statistics in another decade will be like? Unfortunately, it does not look like we are heading in the right direction. (You can read more statistics at the following URL: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/.)

In our busy, fast-paced society, it seems we are constantly moving, thinking, and trying to get more done. The first thing many of us think of doing when we do have so-called free time is to catch up on a little TV or do some activity that we have not had the time to do, aside from catching up on our sleep. And greater quality and quantity sleep is exactly what most of us really need.

Sleep studies clearly show that not receiving the quality and quantity sleep affects our lives in negative ways, sometimes greatly. It can change the way we see and experience our lives and the world around us in dramatic ways.

Some of the following can help us identify when we might not be achieving enough quality sleep each night:

• Feelings of tiredness at some point throughout the day
• Falling asleep within a few minutes when going to bed
• Decreases in levels of intolerance and increased levels of hostility
• Reduced ability to concentrate
• Slowed reflexes
• Impaired judgment
• Apathy
• Unusual weight gain or loss
• Change in body temperatures that lead to feelings of chilliness
• Unusual levels of anxiety
• Falling asleep when inappropriate
• Reduced creativity
• Reduced ability to think logically or handle complex tasks
• Increased levels of self-consciousness with increased levels of anxiety

If you find any of these attributes apply to you, you might want to sleep a little longer or sounder each night.

Amazingly, one of the quickest ways to improve the quality of our lives and waking hours, as the statistics show, is to simply get a better night's sleep. It is such a simple answer to such a complex problem.

If you are having troubles falling asleep, there are things you can do that can help you very quickly. Yes, the following might seem obvious to many folks, but sometimes we miss the obvious. So, let's cover some quick and easy ones first.

Two Things to Avoid: Caffeine and Nicotine

Reduce the levels of caffeine used throughout the day. Studies show that people who have insomnia already have a higher metabolic rate (typically 9%) than those who are sleeping normally. It would take about 4 cups of coffee to raise a normal sleepers metabolism to the same rate. From this metabolic indicator, although the person with insomnia does not feel wide awake and shows all the signs of not achieving enough sleep, we can see that a person who intakes caffeine actually on average is highly physiologically aroused. After all, caffeine is a stimulant!

The short of it...reduce the levels of caffeine intake throughout the day. Obviously, we are not going to say quit totally, even though it can help. Of course, the last thing you want to do is drink the caffeine within a few hours (three or more) before attempting to go to sleep.

List of items, both food and beverages, that may contain caffeine:

• Coffee - Brewed (drip or percolated), Instant, Many so-called decaffeinated coffees
• Tea - Brewed (drip or percolated), Instant, Many so-called decaffeinated coffees
• Cocoa
• Chocolate (Light, Dark, Baker's, etc.): Beverage or Food

  This includes hot chocolate milk.

• Most Sodas: Including Diet and Clear Sodas - Coke, Diet Coke, Mr. PIBB, RC Cola, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi, Canada Dry, and many others

Next, nicotine intake can have a dramatic affect on our ability to get a good night's rest. Just like caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant. Smoking is the primary way of ingesting nicotine. Smoking can raise blood pressure, stimulate brainwave activity, and increase heart rate.

Studies have shown that smokers actually have greater difficulties falling asleep and wake more times during the night. It is possible the later is a symptom of withdrawal. And, when people have quit smoking after regularly smoking from 1 to 3 packs of cigarettes a day over at least a two year period of time, studies have clearly found it is easier to fall asleep and sleep more soundly with less awakenings at night.

Obviously people are not going to just quit smoking, as most who have the habit realize how addictive it really can be. So, maybe lessen your smoking intake and only do it a certain points during the day. Try not to have any cigarettes close to bedtime and try, like the case with caffeine, to limit your usage to several hours before bedtime, which can help greatly. If you want to quickly work toward getting a better night's sleep and you smoke cigarettes, then to quit smoking is one of the quickest ways to help achieve your goal.

Bedroom Sleep Tips!

There are many more things we can do, to achieve a better night's sleep, including taking a look at different aspects of our bedroom or sleep environments. Many of the following list will be subjective, so you will want to find out by focusing on a few and making small changes through time to what personally works for you.

• Bed Sheets: comfort... silk may be romantic, but not always practical. Your sheets should breathe well.
• Room Temperature: not too hot and not too cold. Some people find it easier to keep the room cold and wrap up warmly in their bed sheets. If your feet are cold... easy enough... wear socks.
• Noise or Sound: the less the better, although some people might consider an underlying, constant sound to help with sleep.
• Humidity: If you find your throat is scratchy/sore, your skin feels dry, or you have congested sinus passages, it might be because your room is too dry. If you feel warm, sweaty, and moist, you might want to see if there is too much humidity in the room.
• Lighting: the darker the better.
• Drafts: some people like a draft, while it bothers others. Keep an eye on this one for sore through or tight chest while sleeping. It might mean you have a draft in the room. If you can, open a window and let in some fresh air, as air can become stale while stagnant.
• Cleanliness: Ok, simple... keep it clean. This can keep the air fresh and help with sleep.
• Bed Equals Sleep: Use and associate your bed with sleeping only and not other activities. Read or do you home work somewhere else... not in bed. Associating the bed with something like work or even TV can keep us up at night. Associating it with relaxing activities, sleep or even sex, can help us fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly at night.
• Clocks: the click-click-click of mechanical clocks, the brightness from digital clocks, or just having a clock in front of us can be a distraction. For some, the constant sound of clicking might actually be good for sleep.
• Pillows and Mattresses: Take your time and find what will work for you. The new memory foam pillows, although sometimes seemingly expensive can be worth every penny. Make sure they are high quality products, high-density (approx. 5lbs. per cubic foot) memory foam, as there are a lot of cheap, lightweight memory foam pillows on the market today. With your mattress, take your time and make sure you can test run a bed at home, so you can take it back if yours does not work for you.
• Biggest sleep tip of all: Take your time and BE PATIENT with yourself. See what works best for you. It's worth the effort. Simply reading each of the above can help make you conscious of ways you might not have noticed in the past, and this will lead to improve your own life, by achieving a better night's sleep. Take your time and be patient.

These are just a few things about our sleep context that can help us achieve a better night's sleep and improve the quality of our lives.

As the statistics clearly show, most of us are walking around half awake every day, which means in all probability we are not living a higher quality of life we could be and other areas of our lives can suffer. Both psychical and psychological problems can arise by not achieving enough quality sleep.

Take the above tips and run with them. Take your time, be patient, and find what has helped others and how you can help yourself improve the quality of your life through a better night's sleep. It's time stop the growth and reverse America's easily unnoticed sleep epidemic.

If you have any questions or comments, you are more than welcome to stop by my website: http://www.stasispillow.com where you can contact me, read a lot more about the topic of sleep, and even take a sleep IQ test and develop your sleep knowledge. Hope some of these tips help! They can really improve the quality of your life. I am proud to say they have helped improve my life and many others. Sleep well!

Joseph F. Guarino
President of Innovative Sleep Solutions Inc.
http://www.stasispillow.com/

Ringworm: A Noncrawling Fungus That Can Spread Over the Entire Body

Tinea

A rather common ailment has gone by a very unattractive name and one that is somewhat misleading. The scientific name for this ailment is Tinea; however the more common name is simply Ringworm. Tinea is Latin for ?growing worm? and may have led to the more common English translation.

Ringworm Defined

Ringworm is a simple fungal infection that zeros in on several key areas of your body including feet, scalp, nails and in the general area of the groin. The hallmark of ringworm is itching, skin redness and a patchy lesion that is clear in the center.

Transference

The fungal agent associated with ringworm is found among humans and animals. There is also a small variety of ringworm fungus that is found in certain soils. The transference of the fungus from carrier to host generally takes place through direct contact with either the infected animal or individual. Transference can also happen, to a lesser degree, from touching surfaces that the infected person has been in contact with.

Incubation

Scalp ringworm is generally noticed 10-14 days after contact with an infected animal or human while skin ringworm can appear 4-10 days following direct contact.

Prevention

One of the most effective ways to reduce conditions conducive to the spread of ringworm fungus is to keep areas that find common use clean. In the home this would be places like the dining room, living room and bathroom. In school this would be lockers, gyms and gymnastic mats.

Avoid sharing personal items like towels, hairbrushes, hats, and clothing items. If you are involved in school sports consider wearing flip flops when taking a shower or using the pool. You might also make a habit of washing sport uniforms on a regular basis.

When petting animals it is always a good idea to wash your hands or use antibacterial hand gel until hands can be washed.

Learning about how ringworm is spread is a perfect preventative measure because the more you know about how it is spread the less likely you will be to put you or your family at risk. Knowledge is a key preventative step in reducing the incidence of ringworm.

Other Common Names

There have been numerous names given to various aspects of ringworm that many may find surprising; athlete?s foot and jock itch are two such examples. These infections are the result of a classification of fungi known as dermatophytes that gravitate toward dead skin tissues, nails and hair.

Nature?s Assistance

While the purpose of this article is not to diagnose the existence of ringworm or how to treat it from a medical standpoint, we can recommend two natural products that act as a natural anti-fungal agent. The mineral colloidal silver has been shown to kill more than 600 diseases and may be effective in treating ringworm. Another natural product that has show promise in reducing the effects of ringworm is tea tree oil.

James Zeller writes for numerous alternative health websites and blogs. For more information about Ringworm or his find on natural help for the 50 and Over Baby Boomers. Unbiased evaluation of health and diet supplements are included in most of his articles. Natural products are always best for the body and usually chosen as a last resort.

Austin Implant Dentists

Dental implants are for patients who are missing one or more teeth. The implant(s) are permanently attached to the jaw and cannot be removed by the patient. Most dentists will evaluate the patient?s problem and then offer either dentures or implants. Implants should fit perfectly and will look as natural as your regular teeth.

There are two stages to dental implants. One involves surgery and the other is restoration. A patient would first see a dental surgeon first and follow-up with a general dentist or prosthodontist for the restoration. There are some dentists who are qualified to do both.

The first step to receiving a dental implant is a complete evaluation by your dentist. This includes a medical history, dental history and a full examination of the mouth, gums and jaw. Once this is completed x-rays are taken that the dentist will review. After reviewing the above information, the dentist will present a treatment plan and begin the implant procedure. Once the implant is completed (depending on the healing time for individual patients), the implant is used to support a crown, bridge or denture. The type of implant and the condition that the jawbone is in usually determines healing time. As mentioned, the evaluation for dental implants includes an analysis of the patient?s jaw to make sure that the ridges are in good shape and your gums are healthy. The jawbone has to be in good shape because the implant will eventually bond with it.

In Austin, there are many dentists who have specialization in implant dentistry and its treatment. Check your local phone directory or go online. If you do a search for implant dentistry, Austin, Texas, you will find a list to choose from.

Austin Dentists provides detailed information about austin dentists, austin cosmetic dentists, austin family dentists, austin emergency dentists and more. Austin Dentists is the sister site of Dental Implants Web.